Camera attachment



y 1, 1930- H. F. PREFONTAINE 1,769,458

TAMERA ATTACHMENT Filed July 2, 1929 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. 35- 5- 5m MW J y 1, 1930. H. F. PREFONTAINE 1,769,458

' cmsm ATTACHMENT Filed July 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .42, INVENTOR. 36335 E Y ujmwaM y 1930- H. F. PREFONTAINE v 1,769,458

CAMERA ATTACHMENT Filed July 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 1,1930 UNITED STATES HARRY I. PREFONTAINE, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CAMERAATTACHMENT Application filed July 2,

The invention relates to a unique operating means for camera shutters,enabling a person to photograph himself, alone or with others, withoutthe aid of any handoperating control extending from the camera to apoint at which the person will pose.

One aim of the invention is to provide a novel shutter operating meanswhich may be started by a button or like control after .10 making allnecessary preparations, but will give ample time for the person sostarting it to pose in front of the camera before the shutter isoperated to make the exposure.

A further object is to make unique pro vision whereby exposures ofdifferent duration may be made, for instance, (1) instantaneous, (2)three seconds, eight seconds and (4) sixteen seconds. In producing theseexposures, the conventional in- 2 stantaneous, bulb and time adjustmentsof the shutter are used with adjustments of the shutter operator as willbe described.

In making provision for the different exposures, another object is toprovide a novel cam for actuating a shutter operating member, said cambeing so adjustable as to vary its effective length and to thereby varythe length of the exposure.

The above mentioned cam is, in the pres- 3 out disclosure provided withrelatively movable cam sections for varying its effective length, and itis another object of the invention to provide eflicient means controlledb a single knob or the like, for relatively a justing said sections toobtain any desired exposure. Yet other aims are to provide meanscontrolled by the position of the aforesaid shutter operating member fornormally holding the cam and a spring motor which drives it, againstoperation, to provide unique means for latching said member in its camand motor holding position, to provide novel means for forcing saidmember from this position to the position at which the motor drives thecam, and to provide a single knob or the like for successively releasinsaid latching means and operatin said fiorcing means.

A further object is to provide connecting means between the shutter andthe shutter 1929. Serial No, 375,451.

operator which will permit manual operation of said shutter whendesired, without movement of any part of said operator.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, descriptionbeing accomplished by reference ,to the accompanying drawings whosefigures will first be briefly explained.

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a box type camera. embodyingthe invention. 1

Figure 2 is a front elevation, parts of the camera case being broken awaFigure 3 is a vertical sectiona view on line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a bottom lan view of the shutter operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a detail view similar to a portion of Figure 3 but showingthe cam and 1: the shutter operating member in positions assumed whilemaking asnap-shot exposure or a three second exposure.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fi ure 5 but showing the relativepositions 0 parts at the completion of a snapshot or three secondexposure.

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to F igures 5 and 6 but showing therelation of parts incident to making an eight second exposure.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate two positions of parts while making asixteen second exposure.

Figures 11 to 16 are detail perspectives showing more clearly about thesame relative positions of parts as seen in Figures 5 to 10respectively.

Figure 17 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 1717 ofFigure 2 showing the normal position of the latching means and theforcing means for the shutter operating member.

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17 but showing the latching meansreleased and the forcing means in operation.

Figure 19 is a detail section on line 1919 of Figure-2.

The figures above briefly described illustrate the preferredconstruction and while such constuction will be herein describedspecifically, it is to be understood that within the scope of theinvention as claimed,

numerous variations may be had. More.- 5 over, although the invention isshown in connection with a box type camera, it will be understood thatit is applicable also to folding cameras, with minor changes.

On the drawings, C denotes the camera and S has reference to itsshutter, said shutter having the usual adjustment A for instantaneousand time exposures.

D denotes the control member of the shutt-r, connected by a link L to ahandle H. All parts so far retl'erred to by letters of refare of:conventional form. Q. in the 3"lE-l'tl case below the tram-e composed offront lates Qli 2 and appropriate c-znmectn'ig means between n ispivoted at 25 to the oi the tran e a id is pro- 'nl outer em connectedw'th the cont-o]. member D, v a detachable he arm 24:, ali'orded bythough an opening in the shutter operates upon the :iloresaid end 26 1inner end pivoted to or vertical swinging. In the arm 29 is secured to aupon a fixed shalt plates and ally raised by a spring tntable cam isprovided to force the arm 2'9 hold it for a. zed interval and then allowit again ascend, thereby causing ope 'ation d arm downwar p redetermii40 of the shut'er S through the instrumentality oil the operatingconnections 26, Q-l, and

ii (an 33 is adjustable to v: ry the length "iterval between thedownward and lllOYlliCll'." t arn'i 29 and a norre bie sh having a lmobZ35,

i ustnient of said .ierei described. A. raving a suitable governoronnied 01. frame to: driving the uncn permitted to function, but narilvoperation of motor and cam is t by holdi means hereinafter expla ned,said holding means being releasable ob. A safetv 9 igure preferablyemployed again t accidental movecam edge it) co-operable on it of arm 29in ell'ecting this arm as will be clear from of the drawings. The cam 1mt terminal and as soon frees the shoe d1 (Figure restored to a raisedposition by the spring 32, effecting operation of the shutter S for asnap-shot or three second exposure, according to the adjustment at A.Shutter operation however, does not occur to a sutlic-ient length oftime to ena 'le the person releasing the spring motor to pose in frontof the camera. Due to the construction of the cam 33, arm 99 may be heldin its lowered position for greater pe 'iods of time, for making timeexposures oi say eight seconds or sixteen seconds. This operation canbest be understood after specifically describing the cam structure.

At one side of disk 4-0 is an arcuatc cam on or spring linger l securedat one of its iidlS to said disk and having its other ."l extendedbeyond the cam terminal l2.

.1 its own resiliency, the linger 4:3 normally occupies a. position atwhich it diverges from the plane of the disk -l0 and will rot interferewith rcliase ot the shoe l1 by the tcr '.al i2. However, provision ismade for forcing the linger Ji l toward the dish 10 iidesired, to causethe peripheral ing the arm :5) against ascent for a longer period, thatis, until the terminal 4"." of said linger trees the shoe -l-l as inFigure ll. In the interval between maximum do nnward movement of arm if)by the cam edge -10 and the time at which terminal 42 frets said a inand permits ascent thereof, the shutter has been operated for anexposure longer than a snapshot, say an eight and exposr re.

A. second arc-irate cam section or spring linger i is secured at one oiits ends to the disk -10. Tle other end of this linger 41% extendsbeyond the terminal 42 of finger i l but normally diverges from the disk40 position at which it will not interfere shoe ll leaving said linger43, as will be clear from Figures 13 and ii. If desired however, lingerll may be forced toward the disc 1'0 to the position seen in Figure if),in which position it will receive the shoe it and hold the arm 9!)depressed a still longer period than linger 421 would have held it,thereby operating the shutter time exposure, for instance of sixteenseconds.

lVhenever arm 9.9 is released by terminal :12, 42 or 29 (of linger 4st)the arm 29 raised by the spring 32- and the shoe 41 finally received ina notch 45 in the disk h), as in Figures 3 and 11. At the same time astop arm 40 on sleeve :30 coacts with a shouldered disk 4;? driven bythe motor 356 as seen in Figure 3. Consequently, the motor and the cam33 are now held in the normal position to which they have returned andbefore the device can again operate, it is necessary that the arm 29 beinitially moved to free the shoe -l-l from the notch -15 and arm 46 fromdisk 47. This is accomplished by moving knob 38 as will hereinafterappear.

For adjusting the cam 33, that is for inwardly moving its finger 43 orboth fingers 43 and 44, above explained, I provide the shaft 34 which isturnable to different positions by means of the knob 35 and held in suchpositions by a spring brake 49, a suitable pointer 50 and coacting scalebeing provided for use in settin' said shaft at any of three positions.Sha t 34 is near the periphery of cam 33 and is parallel with the camaxis. This shaft is provided with a rigid lateral arm 51 shown in anumber of the views. \Vith shaft 34 at one position (Figures 3 and 11)arm 51 does not contact with either finger 43 or 44. Then shaft 34 isturned to a second position arm 51 forces finger 43 into operativeposition as in Figures 7 and 13 and upon suflicient rotation of the camsaid arm passes from contact with said finger 43 without touching finger44, which then moves atthe outer side of said arm (see Figure 8). \Vhenshaft 34 is turned to its third position, arm 51 will engage bothfingers 43' and 44 .in Figures 9 and 15, thereby holding them inposition for coaction with shoe 41.

The inner end of finger 44 it will be observed is at the inner edge offinger 43 and the two are cut from a single spring metal plate in theconstruction shown, said plate being secured by rivets or the like 52 tothe disk 40. \Vhen arm 51 is in the position of Figures 7 and 13 it isnot far enough toward the center of cam 33 to touch the inner endportion of finger 44 which is necessary to force this finger tooperative position.

The arm 29 above described is held in its normal position with shoe 41in notch 45 (Figures 3 and 11), by latch means 53 (see Figures 3, 4, 17and 18). Upon release of this latch means 53, means 54 (Figures 3, 4, 17and 18) comes into play to initially move the arm 29 to the position atwhich it frees the cam 33 and the spring motor 36, allowing the latterto drive the former. Both means 53 and 54 are operatively con- 'nectedwith and operated successively by the knob 38. In the presentdisclosure, the knob 38 latch means 53 and forcing means 54 are allembodied in a single slide 55 passing through openings in the plates 21and 22. Means 53 is in the form of a rigid hook and means 54 in the formof a cam. A spring 56 acting on slide 55 (Figures 3, 4, 17 and 18)engages the hook 53 with the arm 29 upon upward return of the latter toits normal motor and cam holding position, after release of said arm byany of the cam terminals 42, 42 and 42". Arm 29 never passes beyond thebill of hook 53 and hence the latter cannot interfere'with ascent ofsaid arm.

To operate the camera so that the user can photograph himself, alone orwith others, the camera is solidly supported, proper adjustments aremade at A and 35 and knob 38 is forced inwardly. This releases the cam33 and motor 36 and the former starts moving the arm 29 downwardly ampletime being allowed by the timing and structure of the device to allowthe user to pose before the device operates the shutter. If knob 35 beset at its first position only the disk 40 will coact with the shoe 41and a snap-shot or a three second exposure may be roduced according tothe setting of the ad iustment A. When knob 35 is set at its secondposition, both disk 40 and finger 43 will coact with shoe 41 and alonger exposure will be made, for instance eight seconds. Setting knob35 at its third position will insure that disk 40, finger 43 and finger44 shall successively coact with shoe 41, thereby effecting a stilllonger exposure, say sixteen seconds. By suitably changing the speed ofthe motor 36 exposures of other duration could or course be obtained.

The shutter 5 may be hand operated if desired and when so doing arm 24will move without moving any parts of the attachment due to its relationwith arm 29.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a camera shutter; mechanical operating means forsaid shutter, and connecting means between said shutter and saidoperating means embodying separate members movable one by the other tomechanically operate the shutter and movable one with respect to theother to allow manual shutter operation without moving said operatingmeans.

2. In a shutter operating means, a shutter operating member, a rotatablecam disk having a spirally directed cam edge of a length to move saidmember a predetermined distance from an idle position said cam edgehaving a terminal allowing return of said member to said idle position,a normally idle arcuate finger connected at one of its ends to the diskand extending beyond said terminal, said finger normally diverging fromthe disk to prevent engagement with said member but being movable towardsaid disk to an operative posit-ion at which it will receive said memberwhen the latter is freed by said cam edge of the disk, therebypreventing return of said member when desired until freed by theterminal of said finger, and means for moving said finger to saidoperative position.

3. In a shutter operating means, a shutter operating member, a rotatablecam disk having a spirally directed cam edge of a length to move saidmember a predetermined distance from an idle position, said cam edgehaving a terminal allowing return of said member to said idle position,a normally idle arcuate finger connected at one of its ends to the diskand extending beyond said terminal, said finger normally diverging fromthe disk to prevent engagement with said member but being movable towardsaid disk to an operative position at which it will receive said memberwhen the latter is freed by said cam edge of the disk, therebypreventing return of said member when desired until. freed by theterminal of Said finger, and means for moving said finger to saidoperative position; said finger being resilient and normallyself-maintained in diver ng relation with said disk.

l. In a shutter operating means, a shutter operatin member, a rotatablecam disk havdirected cam edge of a length a spirall to move said membera predetermined distance from an idle position, said cam edge havi aterminal allowing return of said i nembcr to said idle position, anormally idle ircuate "inger connected at one of its ends to the (lL'lCand extending beyond said termin-d, said finger normally diverging fromthe disk to prevent engagement with said member but being movable towardsaid disk to an operative position at which it will re *eive said memberwhen the latter is freed by said cam edge of the disk, therebypreventing return of said member when desired until freed by theterminal of said finger, a second normally arcuate finger normallydiverging from the disk and connected at one of its ends with said disk,said second finger extending beyond the terminal of the first namedfinger and being movable toward the disk at an operative position atwhich it will receive said member when the latter is freed by said firstnamed finger, thereby preventing return of said member when desireduntil it is freed by said second finger, and means for moving the firstnamed finger above to its operative position or for moving both of saidfingers to their operative positions.

A structure as specified in claim a; both of said fingers beingresilient and normally self-maintained in diverging relation with saiddisk.

6. In a shutter operating means, a shutter operating member, a rotatablecam disk having a spirally directed cam edge of a length to move saidmeml'ier a predetermined dis tance from an idle position, said cam edgehaving a terminal allowing return of said member to said idle position,a normally idle arcuate finger connected at one of its ends to the diskand extending beyond said terminal. said finger normally diverging fromthe disk to prevent engagement with said member but being movable towardsaid disk to an operative position at which it will receive said memberwhen the latter is freed by said cam edge of the disk, therebypreventing return of said member when desired until freed by theterminal of said finger, a second normally idle arcuate finger normallydiverging from the disk and connected at one of its ends with said disk,said second finger having an inner end portion lying at the inner eegeof the first named finger and an outer end portion extending beyond theterminal of said first named finger, said second finger being movabletoward the disk to an operative position at which it will receive saidmember when freed by the first named finger, thereby preventing returnof said member when desired until it is freed by said second finger, anormally turnable shalt near the periphery of said disk and parallelwith the disk axis, and a lateral arm on said shaft adapted to lieagainst only the first named finger or against both of said fingers toforce one or both thereof to operative position.

7.1K structure as specified in claim 6; both of said lingers beingformed from a single spring metal plate and being normally imiintainedin diverging relation with said disk by their own IL iency.

8. In a shutter operator, a normally idle shutter operating member,spring-driven means for moving said member in one direction and forlater ell'ecting return of said member to its normal position, holdingmeans controlled by the position of said member for normally holdingsaid springd' vea means against operation, self-applied latch means forholding said member in its normal position, means for initially forcingsaid member from its normal position to release said spring-driven meansand allow operation of said member by said springdriven means, and amanual control device operatively connected with said latch means andsaid forcing means for successively releasing the former and operatingthe latter.

9. A structure as specified in claim said latch means forcing means andcontrol means, forcing means and control device being initially embodiedin a single movably mounted member; said forcing means being constitutedby a cam on this member, said latch means being formed by a hook on thesame member and said releasing means being a knob thereon.

frame for normally holding said spring motor and cam against operation.

11. A shutter operator comprising a frame, a spring motor mountedthereon, a shutter operating arm pivoted to said frame, a spiral camdriven by said motor and operativoly related with said arm for movingthe same from a normal position and later effecting return to saidposition, said cam embodying shiftable portions for varying itseffective length, a manually turnable shaft mounted on said frame andhaving means for shifting said portions of the cam; means controlled bythe movement of said arm for holding said motor and cam againstoperation when said arm is in its normal osition and a manually movablespringlield member mounted on the frame, said member having a hook forholding said arm in its normal position and a cam for forcing said arminitially from said normal position after movement of said member torelease said hook, the cam effected movement of said arm serving torelease said holding means, allowing said cam to operate said fl-l'ln.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY F. PREFONTAINE.

